Local Vietnam and co-founder Marnick Schoonderwoerd have been featured in the Dutch national newspaper AD and on indebuurt.nl, a major online news platform. The article, published on January 7, 2025, shares Marnick’s story of moving from the Netherlands to Vietnam and building a life — and a travel company — around authentic, responsible tourism.
From Dordrecht to the Mountains of Ha Giang
The article, titled “Dordtenaar Marnick en Rose hebben een reisbureau in Vietnam: ‘We bouwen lodges in de bergen’”, told the story of how Marnick met his now-wife Nhung Phung (Rose) while traveling through Southeast Asia. What began as a shared passion for travel eventually led to the creation of Local Vietnam, a travel agency focused on authentic and locally rooted experiences.
It also highlighted Local Vietnam’s new projects in Ha Giang, where the team is developing small-scale lodges in the mountains to support both travelers and local communities. As Marnick explained in the interview, “Reizigers hebben zo een bijzondere ervaring en steunen tegelijkertijd de mensen uit het gebied. De bevolking profiteert van het toerisme.”
Recognition in Dutch Media
The story appeared both in print (AD Dordtenaar) and online, reaching readers across the Netherlands. For Local Vietnam, this feature represents more than publicity — it’s recognition from independent media for a decade of work connecting cultures, building local partnerships, and promoting responsible travel in Vietnam.
Travelers can read the full article (in Dutch) on indebuurt.nl and ad.nl.
